Intel Plans to Launch Medfield Platform in Q2, Clover Trail-W platform in Q4, 2012

[btarunr]

According to the latest information received by industry observer DigiTimes, Intel plans to launch the first processor platform for ultra-thin Android tablets based on its x86 architecture, codenamed "Medfield", in Q2 2012. Tablets based on this will be able to run Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich". Then in Q4 2012, Intel plans to launch the more powerful Clover Trail-W platform. Currently, Intel's Oak Trail platform consisting of Atom Z670 processor and SM35 chipset drive Windows 7 or Android Honeycomb tablets.

The fundamental difference between Medfield and Clover Trail-W with its predecessor Oak Tail, is that Medfield will be designed for ultra-thin tablets with long batter life, currently only ARM processors provide the kind of performance-per-Watt to achieve this form-factor. Oak Trail and its succeeding Clover Trail-W, are designed for slightly more capable tablets. Oak Trail is opted today, to design tablets that run Windows 7 PC operating system. Microsoft will design performance and UI-optimized Windows 8 variants when its next-gen operating system sees the light of the day next year.

Source: DigiTimes

[radrok]

Intel could definitely have an edge with their proprietary 22nm technology on the next chip (as Medfield is 32nm), it is an incisive advantage on this kind of department, especially because shrinks are awesome to save on TDP and form factor.
I look forward to see what Intel can do, ARM should really keep an eye on this.

[iLLz]

I agree with you. Tri-gate transistors and and the shrink to 22nm and beyond is going to propel Intel in this space, I beleive.

[freaksavior]

Intel Plans to Launch Medfield Platform in Q2, Clover Trail-W platform in Q4, 2012 (with a new socket).